2-month Checkup for Baby and Update on Mom

My son is 2 months old today! We took him in for his well-child exam last night in a nasty snow storm. Our "little" man weighed in at 12 pounds, 12 ounces and was 23" long. His head circumference lands him in the 80th percentile ("big brains" says my husband). Lordy, I forgot how sad it is to hear them cry when receiving their vaccines. We have a perfectly healthy, chunky son. He is on a schedule that he rarely gets off. He goes to bed at 7:30pm and doesn't wake up until 2am then he sleeps until 6am. He cries when he's hungry and if his diaper is changed before eating and that's it. My first child was a good baby but he is even better!

I'm interested to hear updates on the other new babies! How's everyone doing?

I am trying to feed our son only breastmilk but have to pump 4 times at work, once in the evening and once in the morning to keep up a supply. I have a Medela breastpump but it's only a single electric so it takes about 20 minutes per pumping session. I feel like I'm pumping all the time! I am completely pain-free now which is the exact opposite of my first c-section. I am being very strict with my calorie counting and the foods I eat but am not losing any weight (20 pounds off, 20 more to go). As I said in another post, I don't think I can lose much weight while breastfeeding. Since I plan on doing this for at least another 4 months, my goal is to be back to pre-pregnancy weight by July 2nd (my sister-in-laws due date!). I have not started exercising regularly because I'm too busy Christmas shopping. I'm trying to get back to the gym at least Saturday and Sunday.

How are all the other new moms/soon-to-be-new-moms doing?

Hi, my son just turned 6 months yesterday. It's hard to believe they're growing so fast! I just wanted to give you some encouragement on the pumping - I've been pumping since I returned to work (right before he was 5 weeks old), and I'm still at it! We do supplement occassionally, but I know my son loves his mama's milk better than the formula. Don't worry if you have to supplement, and it does get much easier to pump over time. I know how you feel though, that it's taking up your whole day. I feel ya on that one! I have a dual electric but I have an extremely slow let down at times, so it still takes me 20 minutes each pump. Keep up the good work!

Yes, our babies do grow up so quickly! Thanks for the encouragement! Our son gets a bottle of formula (only 2 ounces) when my husband gets home from work. It's a little father-son bonding time and I get to make dinner without holding a baby!

I have a super sensitive let-down reflex. I've been pumping at work since December 1st and now when I just SEE the pump, my milk lets down. Sadly enough, I do spend more time feeding the pump than feeding the baby. So it goes!

Great job pumping for so long! I sure hope I can deal with pumping so much at work for at least the next 4 months!

Hi!!

Julia is now 4 months old.  She had her check up today!  She is 25.5 inches long, weighs 14.8 pounds, and is gobbling up her rice cereal in the high chair.  She's so sweet.

She sleeps from 8:30PM to 6AM w/o any interuption (I know-  i'm lucky)  I found a wonderful sitter for her in someone's home that also takes care of two other tots.  So, she has her freinds too! 

I'm back at work.  I am off Wed; and work from home every other Friday.  I took a cut in pay; now I'm at 80%; and will continue this until she's about 9 months. 

I feel like I am reaching a good balance; but check this schedule out:

5AM:  Vanessa wakes up to get ready for work

5:45AM:  Wake Julia and feed her, get her dressed and changed; play.

6:30AM:  Load bags and Julia in car; drive to Sitters, drop her off.

7:16AM: Hop on the train to go to work-  usually have some free time to apply makeup in the car in case I over slept.

5:30PM:  Arrive back from city and pick Julia up.

6PM:  Feed her, make dinner for me and DH.  Have playtime and bathtime.

8:30PM:  Down she goes!  Then I'm off to the gym.

10PM:  Go to CVS, Waldbaums, or run any other errand that I need to do.

11PM:  Have my glass of wine and go to bed!

I'm very tired!  But I feel very good and am so blessed to have such an amazing baby girl.  She's so happy and she's so verbal and she's just a delight!

Hope everyone is well!

Fantastic, Vanessa! I know things were a little tough in the beginning so I'm very happy to hear that it's going so well! I think it's great that you're slowly easing back into work. You do have quite the long day, though. Sometimes I wonder how moms do it.

An update to my update: my son only ate 4 times yesterday and slept the rest of the time. When my husband changed his diaper first thing in the morning, he would just wail (he never cries!) everytime his legs were lifted. His poor, sore legs! I assume the change in his schedule was because of his shots the other day. He slept from 7:30pm until 4am and seemed to be back to his usual, happy self.

Edited to add: Vanessa, I just looked at your most recent photos of Julia. My goodness, I can't believe she still has all that hair (I'm sure you hear that a lot)! My daughter's all fell out when she was about a month old but my son has managed to keep his so far (knock on wood).

thanks bier.  you are so right; it is such an adjustment.  i think the gym helps me alleviate some stress by getting me-time in; and me-time w/ cardio is even better LOL.  aww, your poor little one with sore little legs.....i cry more then julia when she gets her shots-  she was in a bad mood yesterday after her's.  but then every time my DH looks at her; she starts smiling.  it's so funny.

so, i'm back on cc now.  i took a break, i'm not really sure why; just getting back to your old life with a new addition is friggin hard.  and that's the best way i can say it.

Original Post by vanessa1031:

i cry more then julia when she gets her shots

I totally did this when my daughter was a baby. I actually just confessed this to my husband the other night (4 years later!). I thought it wouldn't be as hard to watch the second baby go through it but boy was I wrong! I managed to hold the tears in since my daughter was with us but I really wanted to let them out!

Edited to correct horrible run-on sentence.

Dude, Christmas shopping IS exercies!!

My little boy is 10 months and loves his Daddy! He'll screach and wimper until my husband picks him up and buzzes his tummy. Then he'll cry when ever my husband trys to put him down. Ethan will usually allow my husband to release him about 20 minuets later!

 He does the same thing for me, but it's just not as urgent as it is for my husband. It's so sweet to watch his little face light up when my husband walks into the room!

He has 6 teeth, and is a healthy 22 lbs and 30 inches! He's almost half my height! Oooh, I love my little booger! He's learning to stack things and climb on things. its a bit annoying when you think your child is playing on the floor, but he's actually climbing up onto the couch to get the remote control. Go into the kitchen to get a glass of milk and BAM, he's on the couch biting the remote!